Charleston Race Week

Mariners will love Charleston Race Week’s sailboat races. Landlubbers will love the parties — especially the copious amounts of rum. Charleston’s yearly regatta features both inshore and offshore races, as well as nightly get-togethers with Lowcountry food, live music, and an open rum and beer bar. As usual, Race Week is headquartered at the scenic Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina. “This is the ultimate venue for this race,” says director Stan Jones. “Charleston is the halfway point of the East Coast, so it’s the perfect location for someone who can’t make it to Florida. Plus Charleston is a fantastic city.” Last year, there were almost 300 boats on the water helmed by 2,000 competitors. With 300 entries already this year, Race Week 2013 is shaping up to be even bigger and better. “The race is for bragging rights, not cash, so you get a lot of salty and interesting folks from all over the world,” Jones says. One event you won’t want to miss is the free Sail Charleston expo on Saturday, where you’ll be able to learn about sailing in Charleston with local yacht clubs, sailing associations, and sailing-oriented businesses. You can also take advantage of the Shoreside Event Pass for $75, which will get you into all the regatta-related activities Race Week has to offer. The pass provides entry to the Race Village, open bar parties each day, raffle tickets, and food options. You can also buy tickets to individual parties, which range from $20-$40. Check out the full schedule on the Race Week website.